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If you’re unhappy with changes to your job, getting to work may feel like an insurmountable task. A new Canadian survey warns that 46 per cent of employees have taken time off work or noticed their colleagues take time away to tend to their mental health following workplace changes, specifically a change in job roles.

When changes sweep the workplace, negative implications for employees often follow, according to a new survey by Morneau Shepell, a human resources consulting company. Continue reading →

On Jan. 25, it seemed the whole nation was talking about mental health. People posted, tweeted and sent text messages extolling the virtues of psychological and emotional well-being. They openly spoke about the pitfalls of what happens when we fail to address mental health and challenged the stigma. Continue reading →

This week has been absolutely devastating for Star Wars fans following the death of Carrie Fisher, and just one day later, even more heartbreaking news came with the death of her mother. Legendary actor Debbie Reynolds died at age 84 on Wednesday, and although she might be gone, she has definitely left a legacy behind that will live on — and not just because of her career in entertainment. Reynolds’ dedication to mental health causes is something that isn’t often talked about, but it should be, and hopefully, people will remember that just as they’ll remember her in Singin’ in The Rain. Continue reading →

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making a public plea to the provinces to take Ottawa up on its offer to spend more on mental health — even as federal officials were burning up the phone lines behind the scenes to negotiate health funding deals with individual provinces.

In Calgary to talk to business people Wednesday, Trudeau urged mental health advocates to pressure their provincial governments to work with Ottawa on mental health. Continue reading →

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to add health care to the menu at this week’s gathering of first ministers, a concession to the provinces who want Ottawa to pick up a greater share of health-care spending.

The increase in federal health transfers to the provinces will be held to three per cent this year instead of six per cent — a cost-saving measure introduced by the previous Conservative government that the Liberals are keeping as they try to negotiate another health-care accord. Continue reading →

Some of the next major hurdles for web developers in the near future won’t be exclusive to coming up with the next cutting-edge design or transcendent functional experience, but making sure that the digital equivalents of handrails and wheelchair ramps are properly installed. With 1 out of 5 Americans living with a disability along with a significant portion of the population’s web users getting older, businesses will need to assess whether their offerings are adequately within the reach of consumers with accessibility needs. And while having an accessible website could make for a strong business case, adherence to accessibility may soon be the official law of the web.Continue reading →

Preliminary evidence suggests cannabis may be useful in the treatment of substance use disorders, possibly serving as an effective, but less harmful, substitute for pharmaceutical and recreational drugs, with more acceptable side effects. However, at least one expert is sceptical.

A new review suggests that rather than acting as a “gateway” to other, possibly more dangerous substances, there is an “emerging stream of research” suggesting that cannabis may serve as an “exit” drug, with the potential to facilitate a reduction in the use of other substances. Continue reading →

This is part of a series looking at microskills – changes that employees can make to help improve their health and life at work and at home, and employers can make to improve the workplace. The Globe and Mail and Morneau Shepell have created the Employee Recommended Workplace Award to honour companies that put the health and well-being of their employees first. Register your company now at www.employeerecommended.com.

How many of your employees have a mental health challenge?

A common response is, “That’s not my business, so how would I know?” This is partially correct. It’s true that it’s not your role to pry, ask invasive personal health questions or diagnose staff. Continue reading →